Travel tips and cultural insights for your next visit to Switzerland with kids

Review: Hotel Waldhuus, Davos

As the end of the school year drew nearer, I felt more and more like I needed a break. I craved a little time just for me, but with three kids and a house to run, escaping on my own just wasn’t going to work out. So I put on my thinking cap on and got creative.

You might have read about my wonderful getaway to Davos where I finally begun to get comfortable with my alone time. I was able to pull it off thanks to the fact that my older two were heading off on summer camp for the first week of the summer holidays. So it wasn't completely "me" time since I still had little Z, but thanks to this fabulous hotel, it was as close as it gets.

When I began specifically searching for a hotel with a kids club I kept coming back to a blog post from fellow blogger Andrea at Any Working Mom. She had previously visited the Arabella Hotel Waldhuus in Davos and gave it the Mum tick of approval. With blind trust, I decided to go for it. The Hotel Waldhuus advertised a kids club for kids from 3 years of age, with hiking, swimming, and spa options for weary mums like me. The Hotel Waldhuus also promised me some much needed time to myself without having to worry about little Z. When I received an offer I couldn’t refuse (thank you low-season!) I booked three nights and off little Z and I went.

Traveling Party

My little gal and I were a party of 2. That made it a lot cheaper than it would have been with all three kids, and it made finding a room to fit us much easier than usual.

The Price

I was able to secure a last minute room with Hotel Waldhuus by email for 130chf per night. The price included the breakfast buffet and kids club. Kids are very welcome with two kids up to 16 years of age sleep for free of charge in their parents room.

The Location

Hotel Waldhuus is located on the edge of Davos on a quieter street near the golf course, bordering the forest and mountains. This was the first time I had visited the town of Davos, and was surprised at how big and busy it was. So I was very happy to find that Waldhuus was just far enough off the Main Street and away from the noise, but close enough to enjoy a short walk into town and all it has to offer.

The Arrival

We were kindly greeted by the reception staff at Waldhuus and they involved little Z in check-in process immediately. It was a thrill for her to help with some of the steps and to be able to see what was going on. Prior to our arrival I had been in contact by email with a member of the front desk staff, and she specifically came over to greet us and welcome us to the hotel. Those two small but impressive gestures got our stay off to a wonderful start. The warmth didn't stop after check-in, either. Each time we walked past the reception desk, we were always greeted by whoever was behind the desk, and almost always they would chat with Z and ask how she was, how she slept, and if she was having fun. Z felt like everyone was her friend, and I relaxed because I knew that I was in a place where children were actually welcome.

We were lucky enough to travel in low season before summer holidays officially began and so we were able to benefit from a last minute price, warm weather, and low occupancy level. And what I liked most about the Waldhuus was that even though they welcome children, the hotel didn't have the feel of other Kinderhotels which can be overrun with kids. Waldhuus seems to have achieved the perfect combination where both adults and children can enjoy their holiday time together.

The Rooms

We called Room 242 home for our three nights. It overlooked the golf course and had a lovely little balcony to enjoy the peacefulness and the morning sunshine. The room was extremely clean and well presented, with a large king size bed that I had all to myself! A baby bed was provided for little Z free of charge. Not only were there a bathrobe and slippers for me, little Z was very excited to see that there were slippers and a bathrobe in her size as well. The room was also equipped with a Nespresso coffee machine, and nothing says "Welcome!" like a snack and water waiting for you as you arrive. The Waldhuus did an outstanding job at separating itself from the pack with the little extras we encountered throughout our visit.

The Food

Despite having a list as long as my arm of recommended restaurants in the Davos area, we happily ate most meals in the hotel restaurant. And no wonder. The food was excellent, and the restaurant went out of their way to cater to the smaller patrons with a dedicated Globi kids menu and loads of activities that they can do while sitting at the table waiting for their meals. As a mum I was thrilled to find that the kids menu was diverse, with many options for kids and a even a great selection of vegetables. The restaurant staff were particularly friendly and Z made friends with all of them, especially Peter, for whom she later painted a heart in the kids club. Awww!

Most evenings I chose from the a la carte menu and was spoiled with every dish. If you prefer, they also offer a set menu. Lunch is also offered at the hotel, with a smaller version of the evening menu. At the end of each meal we were presented with a lovely vial of Alpen herb salt to take home as a reminder of our lovely stay.

Breakfast was included in our nightly rate and the buffet was everything you would wish for. Fresh pancakes, eggs any style, and beautiful breads, cheeses, meats and fruits. We always ate more than our fair share!

The Activities

For this particular trip I had chosen Waldhuus almost solely because of its Kids Cub. Their Globi themed Kids Club had recently been renovated, and they took children from 3 years and older, so I was very keen on seeing it firsthand. And it didn't disappoint. We were warmly welcomed by the staff, and I was even more impressed to hear that many of the staff had been working there for awhile, with one member of the staff having been there for over 10 years. For me that's a terrific sign that the staff are there out of choice and love for the kids, and it made leaving Z there that much easier. Z was the queen of the kids club for three days and loved not only all the activities, but the loving attention she received. She woke every morning asking if it was time for kids club. As it was low season, there weren't many kids around, so Z was the recipient of all kinds of attention. She was also able to play mini golf at the hotel. I could even opt to pay for her to have lunch there on one of the days, so that I could go hiking.

Each evening after kids club and before dinner we would head down to the indoor pool and enjoy some swimming. Waldhuus caters to both their guests traveling with and without children and I liked how there were specific times scheduled when children could enjoy the pool.

The spa was lovely and on one afternoon when Z was at the kids club I was able to enjoy a blissful massage. On the other afternoons I was spoiled for choice and found it hard to decide what to do. But the friendly staff at the hotel were more than happy to give some tips.

The verdict

Z and I fell in love with Waldhuus and I will surely return at some point (with or without kids). Hubby was a little jealous when he found out that we were next to the golf course, so I can see a visit with him in my future.

The only downside, as it is with most hotels, is there is no room that fits a family of five. This is where a Kinderhotel excels. But on this trip as I was just the two of us, it was perfect.